Automatic operator for casement windows and the like



Feb. '15, 1938.

R. w. CARNAHAN AUTOMATIC OPERATOR FOR CASEMENT WINDOWS AND THE LIKE Filed Oct. 4, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 TO OFF."

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BY ){WM 4 ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 15, 1938 UNlTED STATES PATENT. OFFICE AUTOMATIC OPERATOR FOR CASEMENT WINDOWS AND THE LIKE Ralph W. Carnahan, near Dayton, Ohio, minor to The S. H. Thomson Manufacturing Company, Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application October 4, 1935, Serial No. 43,534

2 Claims. (Cl. 268---19) 5 tion to provide a simple, compact and efllcient automatic means for opening and closing a casement window or door, or a bank of windows or doors by remote control.

It is another important object of my invention 10 to provide an automatic means for opening and closing a casement window that will permit the partial opening or closing of the window, or the reversal of its direction of travel at any time.

It is still another important object of my inl vention to provide automatic means incorporated in the operator, to stop the operator mechanism when the window is either fully opened or fully closed.

Another important object of my invention is 20 the incorporation of means within'the operator to hold the window closed under pressure, to prevent its being opened by an intruder or by the action of the wind.

Other important objects of my invention will be brought out in the following specification and the claims annexed thereto.

In the accompanying drawingsv illustrating my invention, Figure 1 is an inside view of a single casement window, showing my automatic oper- 3c ator connected thereto beneath the window stool.

Figure 2 is a similar view, showing my automatic operator connected to a pair of casement windows. Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view through the window shown in Figure 1, showing the window in the open position in dotted lines. Figure 4 is a face view of the remote control switch. Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view through the operator, taken on the line 5-5 in Figure 3, Figure 6 is a longitudinal sectional view throu h 40 the operator and taken on the line 6--6 in Figure 5. Figure Tis a sectional view of the operator, taken on the line 1-1 of Figure 5. And Figure 8 is a circuit diagram of the electrical circuits employed.

45 Referring to the accompanying drawings for a detailed description of my invention, the numeral l designates a conventional outswinging casement window. The window consists of a stationary frame 2 mounted in the wall construc- 5 tion 3 in a conventional manner. A hinged sash 4 is attached to the frame 2 by hinges -5 at its upper and lower corners, one of which is shown in Figure 3.

Welded to the inner face of the sill member 55 6 of the frame 2, and adjacent the hinged side of the sash, is a bracket 1. Above the bracket '7, the sill member 8 is slotted to receive an operator arm 8. (See Figures 1, 3 and 5.) The operator arm 8 projects outwardly through the slotted sill and has attached to its outer end 5 y a shoe 9 that is slidably received in an inverted channel member l0 secured to the underside of the bottom rail ll of the hinged sash 4. At its inner end the operator arm 8 is formed with an enlarged offset portion I! having therein a square 10 aperture 13. (See Figures 3 and 5.)

My operator I4 as shown in Figures 5, 6 and 7, is contained in a shallow'rectangular case I5 having projecting from its top surface a ribbed boss l6 that terminates in a fiat mounting plate l5 H which is joined by the ribs of the boss I6, with the case I 5.

The boss 16 is adapted to pass through the conventional window stool with the operator I4 positioned beneath it and within the -wall con- 20 struction. A conventional window apron I8 is shown, and this may be removed to effect adjustments and minor repairs of the operator. The mounting plate I! is fitted against the lower face of the bracket 1, which is provided with a central aperture I9 to receive therethrough the upper end of a vertical operator shaft 20. This shaft is formed at its extreme upper end with a square shoulder 2| to receive the inner end of the oper ator arm 8.

In order to effect a tight connection between the arm 8 and the shaft 20, I have provided the upper end of the shaft with a transverse axial slot 22, and the end of the shaft with a counter sunk tapped hole to receive a flat head machine 5 screw 23.

When the operator I4 is positioned against the bracket 1, the shaft '20 will project .above it to I receive upon its square shoulder 2| the arm 8; and when the screw 23 is tightened the upper 40 end of the shaft 20 will be sufficiently spread to secure the arm in place. I have provided a cover 24 adapted to fit over the arm 8 and shaft 20, and having holes'extending therethrough to receive screws 25 which pass through the bracket I and are received in threaded holes in the mounting plate l1 and by means of which the operator is supported beneath the bracket 1.

My operator mechanism will now be described. The shaft 20 projects downwardly through the boss l6- in which it is journalled, and within the case l5 the lower end of the shaft is provided with a shoulder 26. This shoulder is formed with a transverse slot 21 positioned 45 degrees out of alinement with the parallel faces of the square shoulder 2; on the opposite end of the shaft.

Freely mounted upon the shoulder 26 against the inner face of the case 25 is a drive arm 28, having in outer end an elongated slot 29. and at its mean point, between its outer end and the shoulder 25, a downwardly projecting slotted stud securely riveted tothe arm 28. The slot within the stud 30 is alined with the center line of the arm and receives a heavy fiat spring 3| whose opposite end is secured in the slot 21 after the arm is placed upon the shaft. The spring 3i forms the sole driving connection between the shaft and the arm. The function of this spring will be hereinafter more fully described.

Projecting longitudinally of the case I5 is a horizontal shaft 32 at right angles with the ver tical shaft 20, and journalled in bearings 33, 33 supported in the ends of the housing. On one end of the shaft 32 I have secured a worm gear and between the latter and the opposite end of the case the shaft 32 is formed with a fine pitchv square thread 35.

Longitudinally movable along the shaft 32 is a square, internally threaded drive block 36. Projecting from the top and bottom faces of the block 36 are axial extensions 31 and 38; Freely mounted upon the top axial extension are two rollers 39 and 40, the topmost roller 39 being received between parallel ribs 4| and 42 provided on the inner face of the top of the case l5 and extending longitudinally thereof above the shaft 32. The lower roller is received within the elongated slot 25 of the arm 28 to reduce friction and wear between these parts.

Upon the lower axial extension as of the block- 36 there is freely mounted a single roller 43 that is received between paralel ribs. 44, 45 formed on the inner face of a cover plate 46 for the case 5. It is the function of the rollers 39 and 43 and their respective ribs 4|, 42 and 44, 45 to resist torsional effects on the square block 36 when the shaft 32 is rotated.

The outer face of the block 36, opposite the shaft 20, is formed with a wide recess 41 to receive a U shaped spring 48 attached to the former by a screw 49 in the block.

The ends of the case l5 are provided with threaded holes 50 to receive the threaded shank extensions 5| of conventional commercial plunger type, quick make and break, single pole switches 52 and 52. The plunger 53 of each of the switches 52 and 52' projects beyond the inner end of its respective shank extension 5|, and is spring tensioned to normally hold the plunger 53 in the outward position with the circuit through the switch closed.

The plunger 53 of each one of the switches 52 and 52' is within the path of the U shaped spring 48 when it is moved longitudinally of the case with the block 36; and when the spring 48 approaches the end of its travel, the adjacent leg thereof will contact the plunger 53 in that end of the case. When the plunger 53 is forced in sufficiently, the circuit through that switch will be opened; and, when the rotation of the shaft 32 is reversed, to move the spring 48 and block 36 toward the opposite end of the case, the spring-tensioned plunger will move out to again close the circuit through that switch. The electrical functions of these switches will be hereinafter described. i

The cover plate 46 is adapted to completely close the case 5 to retain the necessary lubricant therein; and in addition, it has secured to of the switch its lower face a series woundcommutating motor 54 whose armature shaft 55 projects through the plate 46 into the case 5. Upon the end of the shaft 55 I have provided a worm thread 56 that meshes with the worm gear 34, and by which the shaft 32 is rotated Y My remote control means comprises a conventional switch cover plate 51 having spaced apertures therein to receive the shank ends of two double pole, single throw switches 58 and 59. These switches are of a conventional type, having a single spring-tensioned plunger which, when depressed, will close the circuit and, when released, will automatically open the circuit. These switches are of the quick make and break type to minimize arcing, and are known to the trade as momentary contact switches. Adjacent the plunger for the switch 58 I have provided the letters To close"; and adjacent the switch 59 the lettering To open".

The electrical circuits employed will now be described with reference to Figure 8. One side of the field 60 is connected through a lead 6| with a source of current, preferably 110 volts, and either alternating or direct. The opposite side of the field 60 is connected, through a lead 62, to one of the poles 63 of the switch 58, and one of the poles 64 of the switch 59.

One brush 65 is connected through a. lead 66 to a common lead 61 interconnecting one side of the switches 52 and 52'. The opposite side of the switch 52 is connected by a lead 68 with a terminal 69 of the switch 59, and the opposite side of the other switch 52 is connected with a terminal 10 of the switch 58 by a lead H.

The opposite brush 12 is connected through a lead 13 with a terminal 14 of the switch 59, and this terminal 14 is also connected by a short lead with a terminal 16 of the switch 58. The remaining terminal 11 of the switch 59, and the terminal 18 of the switch 58, are inter-connected by a lead 19 and with the opposite side of the source of current.

Before describing the functioning of the electrical circuits, it will be repeated here that switches 52 and 52' are normally closed and switches and 53 are of the momentary contact type, being closed only as long as their respective buttons are manually depressed. They will be assumed to be open. When the switch 59 is closed by depressing the button adjacent the lettering marked To open, current will flow through the lead 6|, the field 65, and lead 62 to the terminal 64, through the switch to terminal 14, lead 13 to the brush I2, thence through the armature to the brush 65.

From the brush 65 the current flows through the lead 66 to the common lead 61 inter-connecting the switches 62 and 52'. Now, since the window is closed, the arm 28 will be in the position shown in Figure 7 and the switch 52', with which the spring 48 is in contact, will be open". Current will then flow through the opposite switch 52 and the lead 66 to the terminal 69 of the switch 59, then through the switch to the terminal l1, and then through the lead 18 to the source of current.

The motor will now rotate the shaft 32 to move the block 36 away from its full-line position shown in Figure '7, toward the opposite end of the case. As long as the switch plunger 59 is held in to close this switch, the window will continue to move toward the open position. When the window is fully opened the spring 48 will contact the opposite switch plunger 53 of the switch 52, and when this switch is opened the circuit previously described through the switch- 59 will be opened and the motor will stop.

When it is desired to close the window the switch 58 is closed by pressing its plunger in. The current will again flow through the lead 6!, field 60 and lead 62 to the terminal 63, through the switch to the terminal 10 and lead H to the switch 52. From the switch 52 current will flow through the lead 61 and lead 66 to the brush 65, and thence through the armature to the brush 12. From the brush 12 current will flow through the lead it to the terminal l4 and short lead 15 to the terminal 16, and thence through the switch to'-.the terminal '18 and lead 19 to the source of current. The direction of rotation will be reversed and the block 36 will move back to its starting position as shown in Figure '7. Before the circuit is broken by the opening of the switch 52', the window will be fully closed, and the continued rotation of the motor until the switch 52' is opened will flex the spring 3! to place the closed window under spring tension. A further useful function of the spring 3i is that when thewindow starts to open a heavy initial load is not placed on the motor, and in the case of a window sticking a gradually increasing pressure is applied until the window starts to open under the increased spring pressure thus built up. Y

For the purpose of facilitating the connections between the internal and external or re mote electrical circuits, 1 have provided a tenminal block secured to the lower face of the cover 46 having terminal connectors 8i thereon and provided with a suitable cover 82.

Referring now to Figure 2, I have shown pair of oppositely-hinged casement windows 83 and 84 within a single frame 85 and having the customary mullion 85.

In the case of the window 83 I have shown an operator as described above, but having a short extension 81 for the shaft 32 as illustrated in dotted lines in Figure 6. To this shaft extension there is attached a tubular shaft 88, which projects transversely of the window, beneath the window stool, to a similar operator 89 for the window 84. The operator 89 is in many respects like the operator ll, except that all switches and the motor are eliminated.

In order that the two windows 83 and 84 may 'open simultaneously, the shaft 32 for the operator M will have a right-hand thread and the shaft for the operator 8!! will have an opposite or lefthand thread.

This same procedure may be used to' connect a series of windows such as a monitor sash, Stilh the window groups, or other inaccessible win dows where it is desired to simultaneously open or close more than one unit. It is equally applicable to a door or a series of doors.

When the block 36 'is intermediate its two extreme positions and both of the switches 52 and 52 are closed, the window maybe moved in either direction by pushing the desired switch button 58 or 59, to cause the motor to rotate reverse directions to either open or close the window.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. The combination with a stationary frame, a casement hingedly mounted therein for swinging movement, a guide, a member movable along said guide, electrical means for shifting said member along said guide, an arm secured to said casement, a shaft for rotating said arm,

a second arm loosely secured at one end to said shaft and connected at its other end to said movable member for actuation by the latter, a projection on the second arm, andla fiat spring secured at one end to said projection and at its other end to said shaft to provide a yielding connection between the movable member and the easement.

The combination with a stationary frame, a casement hingedly mounted therein for a swinging movement, an operator arm attached to said casement, a shallow case attached to said frame, a shaft for turning said arm projecting into said case, a screw shaft mounted in said case, a motor secured to said case for rotating said screw shaft, an internally threaded drive block on said screw shaft within the case, for longitudinal movement in either direction within the latter, and a flat spring connection between the drive block and the first shaft within said case.

RALPH W. CARNAHAN. 

